Social Development Research Officer Jobs in London, Greater London

Local Finance Consultant – Citizens Advice

MLC are proud to be partnered with Citizens Advice to recruit their new Finance Consultant, who will provide support and guidance across the local Citizens Advice offices across the country. You will be responsible for a portfolio of offices, building strong working relationships with both finance and non-finance staff in those offices. You’ll bring your financial expertise and knowledge to a team of people working hard to give advice to millions across the country.

This year Citizens Advice are celebrating their 85th anniversary and during that time they have been helping to shape a society that’s fairer for everyone – working on issues that affect the whole of society. Last year they directly helped over 2.66 million people find a way forward with one-to-one advice, in addition to over 60 million views of their online self-help advice. As part of their commitment to supporting society, they are one of a small number of statutory consumer watchdogs with the ability to submit super-complaints to government. Their value to society has been estimated at £4.7 billion.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation which places high value on staff engagement and growth, with a proven track record of supporting career development with internal promotions and training. The role joins at the end of a period of change for the charity and is a great chance for you to make your mark and develop the role further.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Provide support to local offices with their financial management, reporting and processes.
• Monitor and ensure improving financial standards and compliance with the Charity Commission and other statutory reports.
• Help develop the financial health reporting strategy for the organisation, working with key stakeholders to support the development.
• Upskill local offices with their financial acumen and ability for self-service.

The successful candidate will:

• Be either fully qualified, or part-qualified and studying towards a recognised accounting qualification.
• Experienced in charity accounting, whether that is directly working in a charity or through auditing charities.
• Enjoy working in an evolving environment where there is a focus on modernisation within the finance team.

For an informal discussion on the role or your job search in general, please contact Jamie Elliott at MLC Partners.

About us

Myaware is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to the care and support of people affected by myasthenia related conditions. Our vision is that all people with a myasthenia condition can live well now, and in the future. To achieve this the charity provides support for people with myasthenia conditions, and their families and carers. Members of the charity have access to a wide range of educational resources, online events, peer-to-peer support groups, and a welfare benefit advisory service. The organisation campaigns for better medical services for people with myasthenia and raises the awareness of healthcare professionals in acute and primary settings. In addition, the charity develops and promotes worldclass leading research in the treatment and prevention of myasthenia conditions.

About you

We’re looking for the best of the best to be part of our caring and innovative organisation. The Communications Manager will be a skilled communications professional with strong campaign and project management experience and a passion for driving the conversation about healthcare. They’ll be a proactive team player with excellent writing skills, experience of engaging across different channels, from PR to digital and a track record of delivering communication campaigns with impact, writing educational resources and audience-led website content. The Communications Manager will work collaboratively across the organisation to support the timely and effective delivery of large communications projects. They will put strategic thinking into action to help identify key communications priority areas across the charity and facilitate the generation of creative content.

It is an exciting time to join Myaware UK, as we have recently had a change in leadership, with a new CEO at the helm and a dynamic members-led strategy to support the delivery of our objectives and long-term goals. We need your drive, knowledge, creativity, fun and sensitivity to help us raise awareness of the purpose of the charity, enabling people with myasthenia to be supported throughout their lives, and for our scientists to continue to work towards finding new therapies, treatments, and a cure.

Key Benefits

· Flexible working

· Generous holiday allowance

· NEST workplace pension scheme

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Life assurance after 6 months of service

· Investment in your personal and professional development

Your Role

The post holder will be a strong planner, organiser, pro-active team player and hands-on campaigner. You’ll be a key member of the Communications Team and use your strong collaborative skills to work effectively with our Fundraising and Membership Support Teams to create powerful, transformative communications and campaigns.

You will be results driven and enjoy managing multiple communications projects across different channels to increase engagement levels with different stakeholders. This is an exciting opportunity to join our fast-growing charity and directly contribute towards improving lives of people living with myasthenia.

Line Manager: CEO

Line Management Responsibilities:  

Line management of our Digital staff, but we are looking to grow our Communications Team and hope to have a Social Media specialist soon.

Your Responsibilities will include:

Campaign development and management:

· Develop and project manage a programme of integrated communication campaigns that grab attention and encourage action to support our vision and mission.

• Work closely with the Fundraising and Membership Support Teams to develop aligned messaging and campaign assets and to deliver these across a variety of platforms.
• Lead on the creation of compelling campaign assets and content (e.g. educational and self-help, online actions and campaign toolkits).
• Manage campaign timeframes and budgets seeking a good, quantifiable return on investment.
• Responsible for the organisations membership database (currently on Raisers Edge) and champagning the charity to grow its membership base.
• Gather and present audience insight to inform our campaigns and ensure our campaigning work is evidence-led.
• Set and measure campaign KPIs, conduct campaign de-briefs and write campaign evaluations, encourage a culture of testing and learning and growing our campaigning approach.
•  Seek relevant external collaboration opportunities with allies and partners to amplify our campaigns.
• Where appropriate, commission and manage the relationship with external creative, campaigning and advertising agencies.

Projects and events management:

• Organise, plan and deliver our involvement at online and in person events, and help showcase the different types of support Myaware UK has to offer the myasthenia community.
• Design, deliver and project manage cross-organisational communication activities which will raise the profile myasthenia related conditions.
• Support the CEO to deliver the organisations new website aimed at supporting the needs of people living with myasthenia, raising awareness of healthcare professionals, and championing world-class research.
• Support the Fundraising Team with the communication requirements for events, the Research and Partnerships Team with communication about new research and medical advances, and the Membership Support Team with communication about our services.

Cross-functional collaboration

• Work closely with the Fundraising and the Membership Support Teams to integrate campaign efforts and identify the relevant campaign issues, priorities and opportunities for fundraising, influencing policy and network membership growth.
• Support Myaware UKs broader communications that are strategically aligned with locally focused communications activities, projects and events.
• Collaborate with freelancers, consultants, agencies, volunteers, supporters, and stakeholders to amplify our communications and campaigns reach and impact.
• Represent Myaware UK alongside other team members at events, workshops, conferences and more to advance our communication and campaign objectives.

Innovation and improvement:

• Stay current with sector and specialist trends, best practices, and emerging technologies to continuously grow our communications and campaign effectiveness.
• Implement feedback and lessons learned to refine and improve our communications and campaigns approach.

Skills, experience and behaviours

1. Education:

Essential

• An undergraduate degree or equivalent professional training or at least 5 years relevant experience in a relevant subject area (e.g. Communications, Campaigns, Marketing, Media, Social Campaigns)

Desirable:

• A professional qualification in a relevant subject area (e.g. CIPR, CIM, CIDM)

2. Experience:

Essential:

• At least three years' experience leading in a communications and campaigns role in a comparable organisation, leading successful campaigns to further organisational objectives.
• Proven experience in executing multi-channel paid and low/no cost integrated communications campaigns (owned, earned and bought) to drive advocacy / behaviour change.
• Experience in managing communication projects resulting in effective events or activities.
• Experience in creating and implementing innovative, bold and effective communications ideas that gain traction.
• Experience of evaluating communications and campaigns and measuring impact.
• Experience in managing budgets and financial planning for campaigns.
• Proven experience of adapting communications approaches for a range of stakeholders to create maximum impact.
• Experience of briefing, commissioning and collaborating with communications, campaigns or creative freelancers and / or agencies.
• Experience working in a sector relevant to Myaware UK - understanding the UK healthcare landscape.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in communications and campaigns in a membership-led organisation.
• Experience of working in communications and campaigns in a fundraising context.
• Experience of working in communications and campaigns in an advocacy context.
• Experience of working in communications and campaigns in healthcare.
• Understanding of the workings of national, local and devolved governments. 

3. Skills:

Essential

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for effective engagement.
• Strong organisational skills with experience in managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Ability to use digital campaigning tools and Client Relationship Management systems.

4. Personal qualities:

Essential:

• Proactive, creative and flexible, with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively and autonomously from home, while also working collaboratively as part of a caring team.
• Has a passion for campaigning and what it can achieve in shifting behaviour and enabling more rewilding to happen.
• Creativity, with the ability to unlock innovation as an individual and a team player.
• A professional qualification in a relevant subject area (e.g. CIPR, CIM, CIDM)
• Understanding of the workings of national, local and devolved governments.
• Experience of working in communications and campaigns in a fundraising and advocacy context  

This job description is not all encompassing and may change to reflect need. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes.

We are a fun team who work from home and/or co-working spaces. We will support you to achieve a suitable virtual working environment. This role will be involved in coordinating and attending events and meetings face to face across Britain, so a willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays is essential.

Equality in employment: Candidates will be shortlisted and selected according to suitability for the post without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Please note: no applications will move forward within the recruiting process without a tailored cover letter.

Applications close at: Thursday 14th November 2024 11:59 hours

Interview date: Tuesday 18th November 2024. Interviews will be held over Microsoft Teams.

This post, due to its nature, duties and responsibilities, will be subject to an enhanced check by the DBS. This is funded by Myaware UK.

We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity as we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis, and we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date at any time.

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Position

Reporting into the Head of Communications, this is a strategic and hands-on management role responsible for driving ShareAction’s media function and acting as a key business partner for colleagues across the organisation. Using your experience of developing media strategies, you will advise teams on how to enhance ShareAction’s position as a thought leader on responsible investment, support organisational goals to influence decision-makers and engage target audiences and help manage ShareAction’s reputation by advising on risk and mitigation. You will line manage a Media Manager and Senior Media Officer in the UK and provide guidance to a Media Advisor in Brussels to design and deliver high-quality media relations activity and ensure the effective operation of ShareAction’s press office and internal processes, including media monitoring and reporting.

You'll play a key role in the development of campaigns to hold global companies to account for their impact on people and planet and promote research and recommendations to support our vision of a world where responsible investment is the norm. With excellent interpersonal skills, you’ll be able to work collaboratively, supporting colleagues to engage effectively with the media.

If this sounds of interest, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll bring to the team

We want to hear from you if you have substantial experience working in a press office or as a journalist, with recent experience at a senior level, and a strong track record of securing positive coverage to achieve brand, engagement and influencing goals. This role would suit someone who is skilled in developing and delivering media strategy to support organisational objectives – including thought leadership activity for specialist audiences – and has the interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels across the organisation and win support for your recommendations. You’ll be a highly regarded people manager who has a proven track record of developing junior team members and putting in place the structures and support for them to succeed. You’ll be passionate about using the power of communications to help drive a better future for people and planet.

This role would suit someone who has outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with a flair for breaking down complex issues and the ability to use framing and messaging techniques to produce high-quality content that can resonate with target audiences and inspire action. You’ll enjoy working in a fast-paced, changing campaigning environment and have excellent organisational skills to be able to manage multiple projects at once. You might have previous experience developing media activity within a campaigning or advocacy organisation or on social, environmental or financial issues.

While we hope we’ll find someone with the majority of these skills and experience, we’re keen to hear from you even if you don’t have them all. We appreciate lots of skills are transferable, and we welcome opportunities to explore different ways of achieving our goals.

We are currently formalising our hybrid working policy; however, as this role involves a lot of close collaboration with London-based colleagues, there is an expectation that you will be able to come into the office once a week. The whole Communications team meets together in person at least once a month.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension: invested with NEST and their green funds.
• A healthcare cash plan with Westfield that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9.00 am on Monday 25th November 2024.
First-round interviews: Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December 2024.
Second-round interviews: Thursday 12th and Monday 16th December 2024.

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Please be aware that when shortlisting, we are really keen to get a sense of your unique voice and individual experience, especially if you are using generative AI tools as part of your drafting process.

About Impetus

Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get the right support to succeed in school, in work and in life.

We find, fund and build the most promising charities working with these young people, providing core funding and working shoulder-to-shoulder with their leaders over the long term to help them become stronger organisations.

At Impetus we focus on the critical factors that influence the education and employment outcomes for disadvantaged young people in the UK, working with charities that have the potential for impact at scale, helping their leaders to deliver lifechanging, benchmark-beating, sustained outcomes.

We provide these charities with the funding and the tools to grow and deliver on their promises to the young people they serve. We also seek to influence government and the wider sector to back effective support for young people and invest with other like-minded organisations to tackle the most difficult and under-supported challenges. We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

About the Investment Team

The Investment Team is responsible for selecting charity partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our charity partners to improve and scale their impact.

The Investment Team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles.

The team is made up of 18 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in School engagement, School attainment and Employment Sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 5). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest.

The Investment Team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team.

The team is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We come from a range of backgrounds and bring a broad mix of perspectives.  We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.

Job description – Investment Director

The Investment Director (ID) is a key member of the Investment Team, playing a leading role in identifying, assessing, and supporting portfolio partner charities and other non-profit organisations to deepen their impact and scale their outcomes. This role works closely with other Investment Directors and Investment Managers to deliver external facing support to portfolio partners as well as internal projects to support the development of the investment model and portfolio strategy.

Investment Directors use strategic thinking, analytical rigour, and senior relationship skills to support a portfolio of amazing organisations that, together, will help shift the life chances and outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK.

Key responsibilities

Finding high potential charities and non-profit partners for our portfolio

• Identifying potential charitable organisations for investment.
• Leading in-depth due diligence process to assess and build partnership foundations with potential partners – covering leadership and governance, and their impact, scale, and partnership potential.
• Modelling from first contact of origination, our approach to engaged and trust-based investment management support.
• Developing and championing high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Managing partnerships with portfolio partners

• Managing relationships with partner Chairs and CEOs 
• Agreeing Service Funding Agreements, including appropriate annual investment milestones to allow for a clear assessment of re-investment potential at end of phase 
• Regularly monitoring and assessing partner progress / risks against milestones and making recommendations for progression or exit
• Escalating key risks on performance, leadership and safeguarding
• Conducting annual partnership review with Sector Leads and partner CEOs
• Working with Impetus Finance colleagues to ensure timely distribution of grant payments, in line with Service Funding Agreements.

Supporting portfolio partners

• Providing direct support to CEOs and senior colleagues on key strategic topics, using a mix of at least monthly one-to-one meetings and group facilitation to:
  • clarify theory of change
  • define long term ambition
  • develop growth strategy
  • achieve a step change in the delivery and performance management of outcomes
  • strengthen leadership (individual and collective) and governance capabilities
  • develop path to scale
  • build financial resilience
• Scoping and project managing pro bono capacity-building projects (in addition to providing direct management support). Ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and contribute to charity progression
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with charity partners that are aligned with the charity’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work
• Collaborating with Impetus philanthropy team to develop new funding streams (additional to direct Impetus grant funding) that support our partners’ ability to deliver impact at scale
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each charity partner that is managed by an Investment Director
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with charity partners that are aligned with the charity’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work
• Collaborating with Impetus Philanthropy team to develop new funding streams (additional to direct Impetus grant funding) that support our partners’ ability to deliver impact at scale
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each charity partner that is managed by an Investment Director. 

Support to Impetus

• Developing expertise about “what works” in the sector through cultivation and use of expert input and engagement as well as investigation into key research and evaluative literature
• Working closely with team colleagues to use learnings from our work and domain expertise to inform our strategy, our model and delivery over time
• Leading on and contributing to internal topics, such as team strategy development, digital transformation, or equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Contribute towards Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives through input into case studies, research and policy campaigns, donor reports and fundraising events
• Sharing the learning from our work across the team, across the organisation and externally working within Impetus strategy, policies and procedures
• Engaging in Impetus pro bono, communications, and advocacy events, and engage charity partners appropriately in these events
• Where appropriate, line-managing and supporting Investment Managers on the team to grow and develop, and achieve their project, role and team objectives.

Person specification

The successful candidate will need to show evidence that they meet many of the following skills, capabilities and experience.

Essential

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission
• Senior level responsibility and a strong track record of building trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders, advising them on key strategic decisions, and challenging them in a respectful and collaborative manner
• A talent for strategic thinking around complex issues
• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills
• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation fundamentals
• Tenacity and initiative
• Ability to flex personal style to needs of charity and leadership
• Growth mind-set to seek out and act on feedback
• Proven ability to work independently, and to exercise good judgment
• Strong planning and time management skills
• Interest in partnering closely with charities that are doing what it takes to get better
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

If you don't tick all these boxes, but still feel that you fit the profile, please apply anyway.

Desirable

• Experience in the non-profit (charity or social enterprise) sector, through work, as a pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity 
• Experience in consulting, investment management, senior charity management, or other in-depth grant making and advisory work
• Knowledge and expertise in UK education or youth employability sectors
• Board experience in private, public or third sector
• Understanding of or experience with commissioning impact evaluations.

How to apply

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form)
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm Sunday 10 November 2024.

Interviews

First round interviews and an assessment task will take place on 18 and 19 November 2024.

Second round interviews will take place on 27 November 2024.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need in order to be successful.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation or marital status. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

We are looking for a talented operations manager who will enable us to keep running operations for AIM itself. This could include human resource management, finance, team productivity improvements and managing the community office workspace, as well as providing support to our incubated high-impact charities, both with their initial set-up and on an ongoing ad hoc basis.

IMPORTANT: This is a summarised version of the job advert for CharityJob's purposes. Clicking 'Apply' will take you to the complete and detailed version on our website, where you'll also be able to apply.

ABOUT THE ROLE

People who work in operations have a multiplier effect, increasing the efficiency of their colleagues within the organisation by constructing processes that ensure the organisation operates smoothly and at top capacity. An excellent and more succinct description of operations management as a field comes from Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow:

Though it took Sadie years to admit this to Sam, Marx did prove incredibly useful that summer. No, Marx wasn’t a game designer. He wasn’t an ace programmer, like Sadie, and he couldn’t draw, like Sam. But he did almost everything else for them, and his contributions ranged from the pedestrian, but necessary, to the creatively essential. Marx organised workflow, so Sadie and Sam were more aware of what the other was doing and what they needed to be doing. He made long lists of supplies they would need. He was more than liberal with his credit card—they always needed more memory and storage, and they were regularly burning out graphics cards—and he must have made fifty trips to the large computer store in Central Square that summer. He opened a bank account, and an LLC, Go, Ichigo, Go. He arranged for them to pay taxes (which saved them money in the short term by making their business purchases tax-free), and if, at some point, they needed to hire people, which he knew they would, he set them up for that, too. He made sure everyone ate, hydrated, and slept (at least a little), and he kept their workspaces clean and free of chaos.

The Operations team provides operational support to AIM (e.g., human resource management, finance, productivity). The team also supports our incubated charities, assisting with their initial set-up after the program so they can hit the ground running, as well as ongoing ad-hoc requests and advice as needed. Added to this, Operations supports other participants in programs run by AIM(e.g., people completing fellowships with our research team). While this is less than for the Charity Entrepreneurship Incubation Program, it increases as these programs mature. 

Our Operations team currently consists of ~2.8 FTE – our Chief Operating Officer (previous Managing Director and CTO of Founders Pledge), our Director of Operations (with a mixed background in legal services, management consulting, and scale-up operations), and a Senior Operations Manager (with a background in risk and security management in low- and middle-income countries). The team also relies on external contractors for some of its functions (e.g., bookkeeping, legal advice).

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The exact % split might vary throughout 2025 depending on AIM’s program strategy and number of programs after our yearly evaluation

Employee experience 

• Supporting the development and implementation of HR initiatives and systems

• Providing advice on policies and procedures

• Assisting in performance management processes

• Supporting the management of disciplinary and grievance issues

• Maintaining employee records according to policy and legal requirements

• Reviewing employment and working conditions to ensure legal compliance

Grants and compliance management support

• Support with processing almost £2M in grants per year for seed grants and other funding circles etc.

• Maintain grant tracking systems and ensure accurate reporting

• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance, particularly in the UK

• Support risk management initiatives, including cybersecurity

• Improve grants-related processes and procedures for efficiency

Event logistics

• Organising internal and external events like our Christmas party, retreats, and community co-working days; contingency planning, determining objectives and conducting post-mortems

• Assisting the Recruitment team with logistics needs (e.g., booking travel and accommodation, getting materials to venues)

Automating workflows and building internal tools

• Identifying opportunities to systematise or automate processes with a view to increasing efficiency

• Responding to internal calls for greater systematisation (e.g. “we need a CRM”), mapping out costs and benefits

• Leveraging spreadsheets, no-code and low-code tools to build internal systems

• Maintaining internal systems and refining based on quick feedback loops and user feedback.

Overseeing our facilities management

• For our London office and residential accommodation, we are managing an external service provider tasked with the regular upkeep and operation of these facilities. There is some chance that the functions performed by this external service provider are brought in-house, but at the moment we expect this function to remain outsourced and for the Operations Manager to play an overseeing role. 

Ad hoc tasks

• We believe that the above describes the key buckets, but in essence, the Operations team tends to step in and be needed wherever their help is cost-effective to solve or prevent problems

FUTURE GROWTH TRAJECTORIES

Future growth trajectories for excelling hires could look like:

• As an entry-level role, you’d have the opportunity to advance to Senior Operations Manager and eventually Director of Operations (although the latter would depend on a vacancy being available) 

• There would be room for specialising in a specific area of Operations, such as HR or finance

• As part of your professional development, we could explore more technical routes such as investing in coding or no-code training

EXAMPLE OF THE WORK YOU'LL BE DOING

• After an initial brief, independently organise the entire lifecycle of an event at our office expecting between ~15-50 people to attend. You would know the goal of the event, some parameters like the budget, and would have some light assistance from other staff or external partners with whom we’re co-hosting the event.

• Effectively acting as an office manager/all-rounder for AIM’s London office. This means overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure smooth functioning, including managing office supplies, coordinating with service providers and contractors, and promptly triaging and resolving issues as they arise. Additionally, it means implementing and improving office policies, such as policies around hotdesking, inviting and vetting guests, meeting room usage, etc. 

• After supporting another department with their work, you realise that a series of manual steps they take could be made much more efficient by creating an automated workflow using Airtable and Zapier. You follow a user-centred design process to collect information about requirements, must-haves and nice-to-haves and then build a prototype to later test and refine. 

• Entirely oversee our managed accommodation for staff and program participants, responding to booking requests and changes, ensuring seamless check-in and check-out procedures, and promptly responding to requests or issues. 

• Knowing AIM’s internal policies and ensuring they’re being followed. For example, reviewing expenditure at the end of the month and checking adherence to our Financial Controls Policy, touching base with staff to check whether they have a professional development plan in place.

ABOUT YOU

This role will likely suit an early to mid-level operations generalist, but we’re also very interested in hearing from more senior operations specialists as there is room for future growth in responsibilities within the organisation depending on competency and expertise. We would also be keen for talented recent graduates applying for this position as many areas of responsibility can be learned by a quick learner fairly fast.

We expect excellent candidates will meet many (but not all) of the criteria below. We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the listed characteristics. In the past, we've offered positions to applicants who demonstrated strong overall potential, providing training to address skill gaps. We prioritise high general ability, a strong work ethic, and alignment with our values, methods, and approach to maximising global impact over specific prior work experience or backgrounds. We sketch a picture of potential ideal candidates to give a more concrete sense of what particularly strong candidates might look like, not to discourage interested readers from applying.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Has a bias to action, meaning they prioritise taking initiative when they see a problem and make decisions quickly to drive progress and maintain momentum

• They are excited to play a supporting role and to step up and take pride in doing whatever needs to be done

• They use techniques that allow them always to be moving forward (e.g. prioritisation, time-boxing), and find it easy to pivot in the face of new information (i.e. don’t succumb to the sunk cost fallacy)

• Learns new skills or becomes familiar with new processes quickly, particularly by diving in head first and learning by doing. 

• Is a highly organised, conscientious person and often relied upon to organise something (e.g., a holiday)

• Leans towards frugal solutions (e.g., the second cheapest product), using 80/20 principles, and cheap tests / MVP testing over perfection where possible

• Has had positive past experiences testing aspects of this role before (e.g., maybe they have organised an event from scratch before and both enjoyed it and had positive results)

• Is thinking of their career trajectory as in operations management or closely related fields rather than as a stepping stone to a different career

• Is generally tech-savvy and, for example, defaults to a spreadsheet or finds appropriate tools when trying to solve a problem

• Is a tactful person who can adeptly communicate about delicate issues

Desirable specific skills and areas of experience include: 

• Previous experience using Google Workspace suite of apps (i.e. Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides)

• Previous experience or willingness to learn how to use Slack, Asana, Airtable and Zapier

• Comfort working in a start-up environment. This means:

  • Wearing multiple hats: Ability to take on diverse tasks beyond a single job description.

  • Adaptability to change: Thrives in a fast-paced setting where priorities can shift rapidly, and new challenges arise unexpectedly.

  • Proactive problem-solving: Takes initiative to identify and address issues independently, often with limited resources.

  • Comfort with ambiguity: Operates effectively without always having clear guidelines or established processes, using creativity and resourcefulness.

  • Team collaboration: Works closely with a small team, where collaboration and communication are key to success.

  • Ownership of projects: Takes full responsibility for projects from conception to completion, often with minimal oversight.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A job with a large, tangible impact on the world - your work will attract and select the founders of new field-leading charities and for-profit companies, as well as high-impact researchers and AIM staff

• High levels of intellectual challenge, autonomy, variety, and learning on the job

• An informal, fun, warm, and supportive work environment with high talent density. Our office in East London houses about 50% of our staff, dozens of charity founders and staff, and hosts a range of co-working opportunities and social events for the wider impactful entrepreneurship London community

• Become a part of our international network of ambitious, driven entrepreneurs and highly talented philanthropic professionals

• A true start-up culture, including low bureaucracy, a quick and collaborative work spirit, and high levels of talent density

• Significant opportunities to attend events and conferences to represent AIM, including international travel

BENEFITS

• A flexible working schedule, 30 paid days off per year, and unlimited sick leave

• UK visa sponsorship, if needed, as well as support with moving costs if relocating to London

• An annual costs-covered retreat to bring our whole team together to celebrate our achievements

• A workspace in our vibrant central London office, which is a hub for our program alumni and high-impact organisations/professionals 

• Parental, dependents, and compassionate leave schemes

• A range of other benefits, including a payroll giving scheme, staff tenure donation scheme, contributions towards professional development and IT costs, and a workplace pension

• We are open to discussing specific personalised perks or benefits that may enhance your work experience

APPLICATION PROCESS

Our application processes aim to be highly predictive, time-effective, and informative for you. Our process consists only of stages that our best evidence suggests are predictive of success on the job (such as test tasks) rather than more common but less predictive stages (such as cover letters). We only invite candidates to the next stage if we think they have a good chance of passing it, and take care to choose tasks and interview questions that will also give you a good sense of the role and our culture.

Applicants will be asked to complete the following stages:

1. Submitting our general application form (30 minutes to 1 hour),

2. A general test task (2-3 hours) with the top 10 to 30 candidates,

3. An initial interview (15 minutes) with the top 10-20 candidates,

4. A test task simulating the work you would do in your role (2-3 hours) with the top 5-15 candidates,

5. A final, more in-depth interview (~60 minutes) with the final 2-5 candidates.

We will also conduct a reference check before making an offer. Each stage typically takes 1-2 weeks from the end of the application deadline, and we hope to make an offer within ~8 weeks of the application deadline. Ideally, the candidate will begin onboarding as soon as possible after an offer is made. We strongly prefer candidates to join the team by January 2025, but we would consider a different date for an ideal candidate.

About Us

At Share Community, we work with disabled people in South West London who need extra help and support to realise their dreams and aspirations. We are a registered charity and centre for training and wellbeing, providing a range of programmes and activities for adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, mental health and other support needs. 

We aim to help people live happier, healthier and more independent lives and make their own choices, focusing on what they can do, not what holds them back. We believe that everyone has something to offer their community, whether it be in employment or as active members of our society. 

We are now looking for a Fundraising Manager to join our team on a full-time, permanent basis, working 35 hours per week. Some flexibility around days and hours worked can be considered.

The Benefits 

• Salary of £35,514 per annum 
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution 
• 25 days’ annual leave per year, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days 
• An extra day off for your birthday 
• Free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for employees and their families 
• Free and full access to Headspace (a mindfulness and meditation app) 
• Season ticket loan 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Remote working options 

This is an incredible opportunity for an enthusiastic and talented fundraising and individual giving professional to join our ambitious organisation.

Working with a passionate team, you’ll be making a vital contribution to improving the lives of adults with disabilities, supporting their journey towards greater independence and happiness. 

What’s more, our Investors in People Gold and Investors in Volunteering accreditations demonstrate our dedication to our people and you’ll be joining a welcoming working environment, surrounded by people who support you, challenge you and inspire you. 

So, if you’re ready to drive meaningful change and become a pivotal part of our mission to create a world where everyone is valued and included, then apply today.

The Role 

As our Fundraising Manager, you will take on a key role, creating the income we need to undertake our vital work supporting disabled people. 

We are looking to further develop and diversify our income streams beyond Trusts and foundation and focus on increasing donations from individuals with an interest in our cause. 

Growing our individual supporter base, you will recruit new supporters and build on the excellent foundations laid by our outgoing Community Fundraiser to raise our profile amongst our neighbours. 

You will provide outstanding relationship management and donor care to supporters, ensuring they are recognised and thanked for their contribution. Additionally, you will develop and deliver fundraising operational plans, helping to create fundraising materials that encourage and support fundraising potential.

About You

To be considered as our Fundraising Manager, you will need: 

• Experience increasing fundraising income from individuals and achieving income targets 
• Experience of the effective stewardship of charity donors 
• Project planning and management experience 
• Experience managing and hitting budgets 
• Knowledge of fundraising good practice 
• An excellent understanding of donor stewardship and relationship management 

Please note, this role will be offered to the successful candidate subject to two satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and providing evidence of the right to work in the UK. 

We actively encourage applications from people from minoritised ethnic communities and with lived experience of a learning disability and/or autism. This is because we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of our student body wherever possible in order to provide the best possible service. 

How to apply 

Please send us your CV and a cover letter. In your letter, please tell us: 

• What attributes would an effective and successful Individual Giving Fundraiser have at a charity like Share? 
• What would be your top three priorities for growing individual giving at Share? 
• Who would be your key allies within Share to grow our individual fundraising? 

If you would like to have a chat about the role or visit us prior to applying, please contact a member of the HR team. 

We focus on ability and believe people work best when they feel valued, safe and happy. We do all that we can to make sure that Share is friendly and welcoming to everyone. All CVs and applications are sanitised to ensure unbiased recruitment, and if you make it to the interview stage, some questions will be sent in advance. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be offered an interview. 

This job is subject to two satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and providing evidence of the right to work in the UK. If you are disabled and would like to discuss other ways of submitting your application, please contact us. 

We look forward to receiving your application.